Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm
11.2.3 Details of the consultation responses that involved specific feedback on ecology, and further
consultation arising from this, are provided in Table 11.1.
11.2.4 Additional consultation with consultees as part of the EIA Scoping process was also
undertaken in July 2012, as discussed in Chapter 2: The Environmental Impact Assessment
and Scoping Process.
Table 11.1 Summary of Consultations and Responses
Consultee
Date of
Consultation
Summary of Response
Scottish
Natural
Heritage
(SNH)
04/10/2011 The site has historical records of badger setts and SNH
recommended that a badger walkover survey be included in the scope
of ecology surveys.
SNH welcomed the proposal to survey using extended Phase 1
methodology and suggested that this should be followed by NVC
survey of habitats of conservation interest if any of these are found on
site.
The area around the site hosts deep peat soils, often over 6m depth.
As the depth of soils on the site will affect siting of turbines and
construction methodology, SNH recommended that surveys include
full peat depth survey and peat slide risk assessment. Details of the
latter assessment can be found in Chapter 13.
SNH confirmed that they are content with the scope and
methodologies outlined in the Scoping Report.
SNH 05/03/2012 SNH were generally happy with the proposed bat methodology
statement and provided details of recent records of Nathusius'
pipistrelles from the nearby proposed wind farm at Fauch Hill. Due to
the proximity of these observations to Camilty, SNH advised the
species presence on the application site could not be ruled out and
that sufficient effort should be undertaken to establish presence or
absence.
RPS increased the survey effort for this species and included remote
Anabat recording at height throughout the survey season.
SNH 14/03/2012 During consultation with SNH it was agreed that instead of carrying
out a full scale monitoring programme at a cluster of ponds unlikely to
support great crested newts, an alternative approach would be
sufficient. A design alteration was implemented by using a 300 m
buffer zone around all seven ponds, which will be a no-go zone for
turbines, infrastructure and any associated kind of built up structures.
West Lothian
Council
Royal Society
for the
Protection of
Birds (RSPB)
Scottish
Environmental
Protection
Area (SEPA)
07/09/2012 Confirmed that the scoping report was largely satisfactory, subject to
the detailed advice included in the consultation responses. The EIA
must have sufficient information to assess whether the proposal will
have a significant effect on the qualifying interest of any Natura 2000
sites. The depth of the peat across the site must be identified in
addition to distribution.
24/08/2012 The layout of the wind farm should minimise the destruction or
disturbance to peat habitats.
24/08/2012 Noted that the following key issues should be addressed in the EIA
process:
• Disruption to wetlands including peatlands
March 2013 11-4 ES Chapter 11
Terrestrial Ecology
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